The Express-News polled readers after Game 5 of the Finals to determine the most popular player in Spurs history. Manu Ginobili, coming off a 24-point, 10 assist performance that left fans at the AT&T Center chanting his name, won in a landslide with 59 percent of the vote.

Two games and 12 turnovers later, the prospective Spurs G.O.A.T. was reduced to the regular kind, his myriad miscues helping Miami escape from an 3-2 deficit in the Finals and steal the championship from San Antonio’s grasp.

It wasn’t all his fault, as many of the critics currently calling for his head — or at least his retirement — would have you believe. Tony Parker (9 for 35) and Danny Green (2 for 19) both wilted badly over the final two games, while Tim Duncan scored just five points in the second half of Game 6. Not even head coach Gregg Popovich was immune, drawing major heat for his late tactics.

Still, Ginobili’s high-risk, high-reward playing style is nothing if not polarizing. Especially now, as his 36th birthday looms and his body’s ability to fulfill the wishes of his crazy basketball mind continues to degrade.

One group whose opinion of Ginobili hasn’t wavered is the Spurs. General manager R.C. Buford said Wednesday he wants the Argentine back. That followed a newspaper column in which Ginobili said he’s all but certain to return. If so, the Spurs already know what to expect — dynamic versatility tempered by inconsistency, injuries and decline.

While Ginobili’s pace-adjusted production remained steady, his efficiency dropped notably in his 11th campaign. His field-goal percentage (42.5) was the lowest since his rookie season, while his turnover (17.3) percentage was the highest. It was even more pronounced in the postseason as Ginobili shot 39.9 percent — including just 30.2 percent from 3-point range — while committing 19.4 turnovers per 100 possessions.

The Spurs would probably be better served by bringing in a true backup point guard to limit Ginobili’s duties as offensive orchestrator and allow him to focus more on a supporting role like spot-up shooting.

At this point, however, Ginobili’s basketball DNA is well established. If he does return, the Spurs will have to hope the good outweighs the bad, and that the bad doesn’t blow up in their face at the worst possible moment.